Arts review committee suggests relaxation of busking rules

SINGAPORE: Singapore street buskers have been entertaining the public since 1997, after a three-year ban was lifted. A committee to review the arts and culture landscape recently suggested relaxing the rules to add more spice to the busking scene. Busker Lee Kui Lim, who performs twice a week, said that the real challenge is not catching the audience's attention, but rather getting them to give money. He said: "If they have a poster or something to show that this is an official busking location, when people walk past, they will know that they are having buskers and they are having a performance right now. It's not like that they're (doing something illegal) or begging that they end up on the streets." A committee recently suggested doing away with the need for buskers to seek approval. However, some buskers feel that the move will lower the quality of performances. Others ...